Original French Officers Percussion Pistol made at Châtellerault with Octagon Twist Steel Rifled Barrel – dated 1845 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice French Officer’s percussion pistol, which looks to have been custom ordered with some very interesting features. The most noticeable is the lovely octagonal twisted steel barrel, which has a large rifle bore measuring about 0.69″ / 17.7mm. The barrel is dated 1845 on the right side, and bears French proofs on the left.

The lock is marked :

Mre. R’le de
de Châtellerault

This is the abbreviation for Manufacture Royal de Châtellerault, the Royal and later Imperial Arsenal in the French city of Châtellerault.

The pistol is half-stocked, with all iron fittings, including a lovely trigger guard with a second finger spur for a more secure grip. It has a nice butt plate with a lanyard fitting, probably for a cavalry officer. The grip is nicely checkered, and the grain is quite lovely, though there are some repaired cracks on either side of the barrel tang, as shown.

The pistol retains its original brass tipped ramrod, with intact threads on the opposite end. The lock still functions, but does not hold at half cock, so the tumbler is definitely somewhat worn.

In nice original condition, definitely a very attractive pistol. Ready to research and display!

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: 1845
Caliber:  17.7mm / .69″ pistol
Ammunition Type: Cap and Ball
Barrel Length: 8 inches
Overall Length: 14 1/2 inches
Action: Rear Action Percussion
Feed System: Single Shot

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